<p><b>Immunofluorescence labeling of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) combined with GFAP- and STL-staining 7 days after transient focal cerebral ischemia in the EGF-treated (A-A”‘) and in the control group (B-B”‘).</b> At the striatal border zone, the VEGF-staining appeared most prominent in cells with an activated morphological appearance, which also displayed astroglial GFAP-immunolabeling (A”‘). Concomitantly, STL-binding sites (A”) were seen in allocated vessels, whereas the endothelial cells in infarcted striatal tissue were dominated by allocated microglia/macrophages. The merged staining patterns (A”‘) elucidated those regions filled with immune cells surrounded by numerous, yellowish appearing activated astrocytes co-expressing VEGF and GFAP. At a higher magnification of the striatum from a control animal, immunolabeling of VEGF (B) and GFAP (B’) revealed somata and fine processes of astrocytes in the vicinity of the infarcted region. Concomitant STL-staining (B”) predominantly detected endothelial cells, and the merger of staining patterns demonstrated the close regional association of astroglial processes and vessels. Scale bars: in A” (also valid for A and A’) = 150 μm, in A”‘ = 50 μm, in B” (also valid for B and B’) = 25 μm, and in B”‘ = 15 μm.</p>